Storage of color photographic materials

The University of Rochester Libraries has received funding from the New
York State Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library
Research Materials to support a two year scientific research and
development project to investigate the optimum storage strategies for
color photography. The UR will use the Image Permanence Institute at
Rochester Institute of Technology as the prime contractor for the
research activities. IPI will generate from accelerated aging tests the
data necessary to apply the isoperm approach--in which the effects of
storage temperature and humidity on the life expectancy of color
photographic materials are quantified over a wide range of possible
conditions--to four important and representative types of color
photographs. The four materials used will be the most common
(best-selling) color negative film, color slide film, color print paper,
and cinema positive film now on the market. The end product will be four
sets of data, one for each product type (still color negative, color
paper, color slide, and color cinema positive film), which will express
the relationship between dye fading and storage conditions. The project
data will be published in a variety of forms including charts and
"wheels", which make it very easy to determine life expectancy at any
given condition. The data generated during this project can be used to
evaluate the adequacy and cost-effectiveness of present or planned
storage environments for color slides, movies, and photographs. The data
can also be used for comparing storage with other preservation options,
such as remedial treatment or reformatting.

Additional information on the project may be obtained by contacting:

Richard Peek
Project Manager
RPEK [at] db1__cc__rochester__edu
(716) 275-9285

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 7:35
                Distributed: Saturday, October 23, 1993
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